Kenny Chesney brings summer to Mohegan Sun

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - If one were inclined to consider country music in geographical terms, images of America’s heartland, the Midwest, or the rural South might come to mind. Country superstar Kenny Chesney is bringing a change in latitude to the genre and brought a summer attitude to Mohegan Sun with his “Goin’ Coastal” tour.

The Friday night show was the first of two consecutive sold-out nights at the casino for Chesney and his seven-piece band. This leg of the tour also features openers Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker.

“We know this has been one of the hardest winters ever,” Chesney shouted out to the crowd. “But this show tonight is the first glimpse of Summer 2011. People ask me what ‘Goin’ Coastal’ means and I tell them it is a state of mind.”

Chesney’s country is swept by the same tradewinds that have kept Jimmy Buffett a viable concert draw with high energy anthems that are beach and leisure-themed. He gave a handful up early to the enthusiastic crowd such as “Summertime,” and “Beer in Mexico.”

Unlike Buffett’s grass skirted and steel-drum side show, Chesney merely gives a nod to the beach life in his music. He still has great collection of small-town songs that reflect his upbringing in East Tennessee, like “Go Back,” which he introduced with a story about the song’s development on a tour bus away from home.

He went back to the bohemian lifestyle with “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem,” and dedicated a simple acoustic version of “I’m Alive,” to fellow musician Dave Matthews.

Chesney delivered the song at the very end of a long catwalk that extended from the stage across the arena floor and he stayed out there to perform “There Goes My Life,” to a piano accompaniment.

For good measure, Chesney threw in a drinking song or two including “Out Last Night,” before revving up the crowd by bringing Uncle Kracker out to reprise the hit he shares with the Detroit rocker called “When the Sun Goes Down.”

To be fair, he pulled up the other opener, Billy Currington, to walk the catwalk with him during “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” which closed the set.

Even though Chesney’s portion of the show had already clocked in at close to two full hours, he returned to encore with “Boys of Fall,” and told the story of his own childhood and the impact sports had on his life.

Both Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker turned in fantastic opening sets that were worthy of headline status. Uncle Kracker wowed with covers of his friend Kid Rock (All Summer Long”) and the classic “Drift Away,” along with his own hit “Follow Me.”